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    What Makes Research Scientific

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    Payal Sharma
    Scientific research is distinguished from other forms of inquiry by its use of the scientific method. The scientific method uses empirical observation and experimentation to develop and test theories that can describe, understand, and predict how the world works. For research to be considered scientific, it must meet criteria such as reliability, replication, and validity to ensure the integrity of its conclusions and that its findings can withstand examination by others.

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    What Makes Research Scientific

    Uploaded by

    Payal Sharma
    113 views5 pages
    Scientific research is distinguished from other forms of inquiry by its use of the scientific method. The scientific method uses empirical observation and experimentation to develop and test theories that can describe, understand, and predict how the world works. For research to be considered scientific, it must meet criteria such as reliability, replication, and validity to ensure the integrity of its conclusions and that its findings can withstand examination by others.

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    What makes research scientific

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    Scientific research is distinguished from other forms of inquiry by its use of the scientific method. The scientific method uses empirical observation and experimentation to develop and test theories that can describe, understand, and predict how the world works. For research to be considered scientific, it must meet criteria such as reliability, replication, and validity to ensure the integrity of its conclusions and that its findings can withstand examination by others.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    113 views5 pages

    What Makes Research Scientific

    Uploaded by

    Payal Sharma
    Scientific research is distinguished from other forms of inquiry by its use of the scientific method. The scientific method uses empirical observation and experimentation to develop and test theories that can describe, understand, and predict how the world works. For research to be considered scientific, it must meet criteria such as reliability, replication, and validity to ensure the integrity of its conclusions and that its findings can withstand examination by others.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 5

    What makes research scientific?

    We place special emphasis on the process of


    research because it is the rigour with which this is
    carried out (the scientific method) that distinguishes
    scientific research from other forms of enquiry, and
    scientific knowledge from other kinds of knowledge.

    Scientific method is one means by which knowledge


    is created; however, it is not the only way we know
    or understand our world. Three other modes of
    knowing in human societies can be identified
    (Frankfort-Nachmias and Nachmias 1996).
    • Authoritarian - individuals serve as sources of
    knowledge by virtue of their social or political
    position. These individuals may be religious or
    political leaders, kings or 'experts' such as
    respected scientists.
    • Mystical - knowledge is sought from the
    supernatural world.
    • Rationalistic - within the school of rationalism
    knowledge can be derived from the rules of
    logic and without reference to the empirical
    world.
    • In contrast to the modes listed above,
    scientific knowledge about the world is based
    upon empirical observation. Observation is
    used to develop theory to help us to describe,
    understand, and predict how our world works.
    The procedures by which observations are
    gathered, evaluated, and used to produce new
    knowledge are termed methodology.
    Research methodologies are the rules and procedures by which knowledge is
    generated and shared. They allow research and therefore knowledge claims
    to be evaluated. The following criteria are commonly used to evaluate
    scientific research (Bryman 2008).

    • Reliability - Is the research study repeatable? - that is: are the measures used
    reliable and consistent. If I go back and repeat the measurements in the same
    conditions will I get the same results?

    • Replication - This refers to the idea that the procedures (methodology)


    employed in the study are reported in sufficient detail that a second researcher
    could repeat the study.
    • Validity - This concerns the integrity of conclusions that are generated through a
    research study. There are a number of issues raised here including (1) does the
    measure employed accurately reflect the concept under investigation; (2) is the
    causal relationship robust - can we be sure that X is the cause of Y? (3) Can we
    be confident that we can extrapolate our findings beyond the research context?
    • In certain instances and particularly where a research study
    is not seeking to extrapolate statistical findings beyond the
    research context, the criteria of trustworthiness has been
    suggested as a means to ensure the integrity of conclusions.
    • All the criteria above are judged by perceived rigour in
    method; that is confidence that the researcher has followed
    accepted procedures to ensure to the fullest that the
    conclusions reached are robust. To achieve confidence in
    the results of a study demands 'disciplined inquiry' such that
    the data, arguments, and reasoning are able to withstand
    examination by other members of the scientific community
    (Punch 1998).

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